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Re: ESPN Signs Exclusive Multi-Year Deal with EA To Broadcast Madden eSports Competit
First, trying to get 120 offensive plays into an online game is a non-starter on every level, outside of those online CFM's that have grouped players that see this as a priority. The games take way too long and no one has that kind of time to play on a regular basis. That's also why there are so few online CFM's that are active week to week.
MUT games get you about 55-70 offensive plays a game. That's plenty in this environment. Just like we adapt rules to football in other areas, flag football, pick up games, pee wee, and so on, it makes sense to adapt here. And that is enough plays to equate about one half of a game. If you look at it as the second half of a tie game, which is plenty to foster a competitive game.
I've argued over and over on here that Madden is not a sim, has never been a sim, and will probably never be a sim. But it is a great platform for competitive matches based on the sport of football. If it were a board game, no one would complain about the adaptations made to make the game work on that platform. And that's all that is going on here.
As a competitive sport, you play to win the game. In the second half of a tie game, you are going to go for it on 4th down more often, because you have fewer possessions. Now, some of the guys are dumb, and I've seen guys screw themselves, in the Madden Championships, by not executing smart game theory, and going for it when it doesn't make sense. And today, I listened to a segment on the radio about how many NFL coaches need to learn more game theory so that they stop making so many poor decisions down the stretch of a game.
So, yes, if you view that 1st quarter 4th down attempt as though it is really in the 1st quarter, it looks bad. But if you are competing, and understand the conditions, it might make a lot more sense. If things went bad, and you are down 14-0 in the 1st quarter, it's more like late in the third. And if the other guy gets the ball to start the second half, you have one less possession than you would have had.
Of course, that's where some guys screw themselves. Because, while it is only the second half of a game, you have 6 time outs, 2 end of the quarter clock stoppages, 2 two-minute warnings, and a halftime that may swap possessions. You have to consider all of that, too. It's nowhere near as little time as you think, and part of why you get so many plays in despite the short quarter lengths.
Once you wrap your head around that, you begin to realize that while the rules of football are being screwed with, the core essence is still there, and that's what helps you make sense of the changes. Running the ball will seal a win. A strong defense means you can punt and wait to get the ball back.
What Hooe hit on is something I think EA needs to improve on if they want Madden to be TV ready. I need better understanding of what each guy is doing. I want a half time show where the analyst shows the viewer what adjustments guys are making. I need to see replays.
I don't care if the players are using defenses unconventionally, but I want to hear the analyst talk about why. I want learn how to counter what people do online.
It's video game based on a competitive sport. I have no problem with guys that just want to do the paint-by-numbers simulation of what they see on Sundays, tweaking sliders so it looks just right and all results match expectations. There is something zen about it, and I've been there. But it's no different than if I were drawing or painting what I see on Sundays, or working on a plastic model of a perfect tackle. It's worthwhile and interesting.
But it is mind boggling to me that these same guys cannot understand why so many people view sports games as something to play head-to-head, competitively, to the point that they don't care about franchise play.
My first games of Madden was in the 90's while I was in college. And it was six or seven of us hanging out, drinking beers, and playing Madden, where winner gets next. All night long, competing to keep playing. Yeah, I would play some season mode when I got home, but it was playing someone sitting next you on the couch that made Madden rule. And not a single dude wanted to hear about how good your franchise was going.
I know it is the last thing folks in this forum want to hear, but MUT made Madden great again by providing a fanatic way to play the game competitively, with our favorite players. I would rather it be a subscription based mode instead of microtransactions, for sure, but I get that this mode is expensive to produce and run week after week. I don't mind that it costs extra, because it suddenly made playing online against randoms more fun.
What I really hope is that ESPN can improve the understanding of what Madden online is, and elevate the gameplay. I'm excited to see what the future brings. I'm fully aware it might be terrible, too. But that's the risk.
Last edited by JayhawkerStL; 01-29-2018 at 12:36 PM.
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